Medical examination apparatus



Feb. 3, 1970 B. A. C-ERALDI' 3,493,225

MEDICAL EXAMINATION APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1967 2Sheets-$heet 1 J i mvmon BERNARD A. cnmo/ I32 I32 BY Feb. 3, 1970 B. A. CERALDI 3,493,225

MEDICAL EXAMINATION APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet z 28 6 0 112 'lmu as 90 no 58 no I72 92 I06 90 a "6 M L 5 o a I 62 ,--21 5 B O a I mvmon BERNARD A. CERALD/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,493,225 MEDICAL EXAMINATION APPARATUS Bernard A. Ceraldi, 3886 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44111 Filed Mar. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 624,283 Int. Cl. A61g 13/00 US. Cl. 269-322 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates as indicated to medical examination apparatus and relates more particularly to a type of apparatus designed particularly for proctologists and proctological examination.

In proctological examination, it is important that the patient assume and maintain a particular position in order to permit proper examination by the physician. The assumption of such proper position is highly desirable to facilitate use of a sigmoidoscope or the like, and the maintenance of such proper position is necessary to prevent shifting of the patients body during examination with such instrument in order to prevent possible injury to the internal organs of the patient. In order to insure the maintenance of such position, it is desirable that the patient be made as comfortable as circumstances permit.

Present equipment for facilitating proctological examination falls generally into two categories, one such category including the relatively large, self-contained medical examination table specifically designed for proctological examination. Although this type of equipment is satisfactory in operation, it is relatively costly and of such size as to practically require a separate room for housing and operating the same. The second category comprises what might be referred to as improvised devices which are portable and adapted to be used with the ordinary medical examination table. One known device of this type comprises simply a triangular shaped member which can lie fiat on top of the examination table and over which the patient can drape himself to facilitate the proctological examination. While such improvised devices have the advantages of being portable and inexpensive, they have significant limitations in use, including an inability to satisfactorily accommodate patients of varying shapes and heights and the inability of the patient to comfortably assume the necessary position thereon for any period of time.

With the above in mind, an object of the present invention is to provide medical examination apparatus of the type described which is portable and particularly designed for associated use with the commonly available medical examination table. Specifically, the apparatus of the present invention is provided with a hinged extension which is adapted to be supported by the medical examination table, with such extension serving to support the upper regions of the body of the patient while in the examination position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the main body supporting section thereof is vertically adjustable relative to the apparatus frame thereby to permit variable adjustment 3,493,225 Patented Feb. 3, 1970 of such section to accommodate the height of the patient.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a knee rest carried by such main supporting section which is independently vertically adjustable thereby to permit final desired adjustment while the patient is in position for examination.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is relatively compact when not in use so that the same may be conveniently put to one side without significantly sacrificing valuable floor space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is self-locking when the weight of the patient is placed downwardly thereon thereby to prevent shifting of the apparatus while the patient is being examined.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawparticular shape and ings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the medical examination apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of such apparatus, with the patient being shown in dashed lines properly positioned on the apparatus for examination;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the apparatus, taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary View of the bottom region of the frame of the apparatus, showing in greater detail the manner in which the frame is supported by casters for rolling movement.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, wherein like parts are indicated by like reference numerals, and initially to FIG. 1, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a supporting frame generally indicated at 10, a vertically adjustable body support section generally indicated at 12, a knee rest generally indicated at 14 and a hinged extension 16. As will be presently described, the body support section 12 and knee rest 14 are adjustable relative to the frame 10 and the knee rest 14 is independently adjustable relative to the support section 12 whereby the patient can be comfortably supported on the apparatus to facilitate examination by the physician.

The frame 10 includes side panels 20 and 22 which are in the form shown generally triangular in shape and which are spaced and rigidly interconnected adjacent the lower regions thereof by transverse supporting members 24 and 26. Intermediate and upper transverse support members 27 and 28 are also provided which extend between the side panels 20 and 22 for spacing and interconnecting the panels in such regions.

Each of the side panels 20 and 22 is formed with longitudinally extending slots 30 and 32, respectively, which extend substantially the entire longitudinal length of such panels and which are adapted to slidably receive the opposed side edges of panel member 34 of the body support section 12. A transversely extending reinforcing member 36 is rigidly connected to the panel 34 at the upper end thereof and a cushion or pad 38 is attached to the upper region of the panel 34 and the reinforcing member 36, as shown both in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the form shown, a second pad section 40 is mounted to the panel 34 immediately below the pad 38.

The extension 16 is hinged to the body support section 12 by means of hinge 44, one leaf 46 of which is attached to the bottom face of the transverse supporting member 36. The other leaf 48 of the hinge is attached to the underside of the extension 16, with the axis of the hinge 44 being positioned to permit the extension 16 when not being used to assume a substantially vertical position, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3. When it is desired to use the apparatus, the extension 16 is raised and the free end thereof supported by an examining table shown in dashed lines at 50 in FIG. 2.

A generally T-shaped bracket 52 is attached to the back side of panel 34 by means such as bolts 54 or the like, with the outer end of such bracket carrying a nut member 56. The nut 56 is adapted to threadedly receive a drive screw 58 the upper end of which is journaled in block 60 rigidly secured to the transverse brace member 28. The lower end of the drive screw 58 is keyed to sleeve 62 for rotation therewith, with sleeve 62 in turn being drivingly connected to output shaft 64 of a conventional 90 reversible drive motor generally indicated at 66. The axially offset portion of the drive motor 66 is rigidly attached to a generally L-shaped bracket 68 One leg of which is mounted on the transverse frame member 27.

The drive motor 66 is suitably wired for electrical connection to a source of electric power, for example a conventional wall outlet, with control buttons 74 and 76, FIGS. 1 and 2, being exposed at the exterior of side panel 20. Control button 74 serves to drive the reversible motor and the drive screw in a direction to raise the nut 56 and the panel 34 connected thereto thereby raising the body support section 12 to the desired position, and the control 'button 76 actuates rotation of the motor and drive screw 58 in the opposite direction.

In the invention thus far described, it will be seen that the body support section 12 can be conveniently raised or lowered to vertically adjust the same to comfortably receive the patient. As described, the extension 16 when the apparatus is in use is supported at its free end by the examining table 50 or the like, with the extension pivoting about such free end when the panel 34 is raised to a position wherein the hinged end of the extension is vertically above the top of the examining table.

The knee rest 14 comprises a bottom support member 80 to which is attached a pad 82. The support 80 is in turn rigidly attached to brackets 84 and 86 which extend through longitudinal slots 88 and 90 formed in the panel member 34. The brackets 84 and 86 are formed at their inner ends with laterally outwardly extending flanges 92 and 94, respectively, FIG. 5, disposed contiguous the adjacent face of the panel section 34. Angle brackets 96 and 98, respectively, are carried by the brackets 84 and 86 by bolt assemblies 100 and 102, and define with the flanges 92 and 94 openings which are adapted to receive the panel 34 for guiding the movement of the knee rest 14 relative thereto.

The flanges 92 and 94 are mounted on a transverse bar 106 which is spaced by the thickness of such flanges from the adjacent face of the panel 34. A nut member 108 similar to nut 56 is mounted on the transverse bar 106 generally centrally thereof but offset longitudinally from the drive screw 58. A drive screw 110 drivingly engages the nut 108, with the drive screw 110 being journaled at its upper end in journal block 112 mounted on transverse member 28 in a similar manner to the journal block 60. The bottom of the drive screw 110 is keyed to sleeve 116 which is in turn drivingly connected to the output shaft 118 of a 90 reversible drive motor generally indicated at 120. The latter is mounted on the transverse frame member 27 by means of bracket 122 similar to the bracket 68 previously described. Control buttons 124 and 126,

FIGS. 1 and 2, are provided to actuate the reversible drive motor to raise or lower, respectively, the knee rest 14 relative to the support section 12.

It will thus be seen that the knee rest 14 can be vertically adjusted relative both to the frame 10 and the body support section 12. -In this manner, the exact shape of the patient can be more precisely taken into account, with the knee rest portion 14 being vertically adjusted to accurately accommodate the length of the patients legsbetween the hip joint and the knee. If desired, the patient can assume a temporary position on the apparatus and the knee rest section 14 and body support section 12 thereafter adjusted to positions most comfortable to the patient.

As above described, it is highly desirable to prevent shifting of the apparatus once the patient has assumed position thereon in order to prevent possible injury to the patient. A plurality of caster assemblies commonly and generally designated at are provided, there being three such assemblies in the form shown, two being positioned adjacent each rear corner of the frame 10 and the third being positioned in the front of the apparatus generally below the knee rest 14 and intermediate the transverse member 24. Each of such caster assemblies is identically constructed and, referring to FIG. 6, comprises a caster roller 132 rotatably carried in conventional manner by a swivel member 134. A vertically extending pin 136 extends upwardly within sleeve 138 which is in turn telescopically received within an elongated cylindrical sleeve 140. The latter extends through an opening provided therefor in the transverse member 24 and through an opening formed in a support plate 142 rigidly attached to the transverse member 24. The sleeve is retained in place by means of set screw 144 which is threadedly received in an opening formed in the support plate 142 and which engages the exterior periphery of the cylindrical sleeve 140.

The pin 136 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 146 which is adapted to receive a pin 148 extending transversely through the cylindrical sleeve 140, with the exposed opposite ends of such pin being received in recesses provided therefor in the transverse member 24. The lower end convolution of a coil spring 150 is operatively connected to the top of the pin 136 by a retaining screw 152, with the upper convolution of the spring 150 seating against the bottom of cap member 154 which is threadedly secured on the upper threaded end portion of the cylindrical sleeve 140.

Each side panel 20 and 22 carries at the bottom thereof a pad preferably made of rubber or the like which is normally elevated from the floor F but which engages the same when the patient places his weight upon the device prior to examination, as will be presently described.

It -will thus be seen that when the apparatus is not in use, it can be rolled over the supporting surface on the caster rollers to any desired location. When a patient is to be examined, the extension 16 is raised so that the free end thereof is supported by an examining table or like support surface, as shown in FIG. 2. When the patient positions himself on the apparatus, the Weight of the patient is initially transferred downwardly through the frame to the several caster rollers 132. By virtue of the resilient support of the rollers, the frame 10 will be lowered until the strips 160 contact the floor F, with the relative movement of the frame and caster assemblies being provided for by the slots 146 formed in pins 136. When the transverse member is lowered relative to the caster rollers 132, the coil springs 150 are relatively compressed and remain so until the weight of the patient is relieved. The patient is thus supported directly by the frame thereby to prevent inadvertent shifting of the apparatus during the examination of the patient. The compression of the springs 150 can be suitably controlled through adjustment of the caps 154 to accommodate a rather wide range of patient weights.

In the form shown, the apparatus is provided with arms 170 and 172 which serve both to restrict the lateral movement of the patient when positioned on the apparatus as well as to improve the esthetic qualities of the apparatus by giving it a chair-like appearance. The apparatus can thus be placed when not in use in the physicians examination room Without significantly detracting from the decor thereof.

The operation of the apparatus should be apparent from the above description. To use the apparatus, the same is moved to a position adjacent the" examining table 50 or other supporting surface. The patient then positions himself on the apparatus as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. If the patient is comfortable when assuming such position, no further adjustment of the body support section 12 and/or the knee rest 14 is required and the patient is ready for examination. If, on the other hand, the patient is not comfortably positioned on the apparatus, either the body support section 12, or the knee rest 14, or both, can by vertically adjusted relative to the frame to provide the desired relation of these movable members relative to the frame to provide the most comfortable position for the patient, a typical patient position being shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. Any such verical adjustment can be simply attended to by actuating the control buttons 74, 76, 124 or 126, as described. The weight of the patient acts downwardly through the frame 10 to lower the frame so that the same is directly supported through the strips 160 by the floor F thereby to prevent shifting of the apparatus while the patient is being examined. When a patient dismounts, the resilient mounting of the casters is effective to raise the frame 10 thereby to permit the apparatus to be rolled over the supporting surface to a suitable non-use location as desired.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides distinct advantages over presentlyexisting equipment of this general type. The device is relatively simply constructed and can be manufactured at relatively low cost. The adjustments provided permit the patient to be comfortably positioned on the apparatus regardless of the height or shape of the patient thereby to facilitate the examination by the physician.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In medical examination apparatus of the type described comprising a main frame and body support and knee rest sections carried by said frame, the improvement comprising means for mounting said body support section for generally vertical linear adjustment relative to said frame, and drive means carried by said frame for vertically linearly moving said body support section relative to said frame, wherein said main frame comprises a pair of spaced and rigidly interconnected side panels, each of said panels being formed with longitudinally extending slots on the interior face thereof for slidably receiving a panel of said body support section, said drive means for vertically moving said body support section relative to said frame comprising a reversible drive motor mounted on said frame, and means operatively connecting said drive motor means to said body support section for vertically moving the same relative to said main frame.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means operatively connecting said reversible" drive means and said body support section comprises a drive screw threadedly received in a nut carried by said body support section, said drive screw being vertically fixed whereby rotation thereof effects vertical movement of said body support section relative to said main frame.

3. In medical examination apparatus of the type described comprising a main frame and body support and knee rest sections carried by said frame, the improvement comprising means for mounting said body support section for generally vertical linear adjustment relative to said frame, and drive means carried by said frame for vertically linearly moving said body support section relative to said frame, wherein said body support section is formed with a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending slots, said knee rest having mounted thereon a pair of brackets each of which extends through an associated slot, said brackets being operatively connected to an internally threaded nut member through which threadedly extends a rotatable drive screw, and reversible motor means for rotating said screw member in opposite directions thereby to vertically move said knee rest relative to said body support section and to said frame.

4. In medical examination apparatus of the type described comprising a main frame and body support and knee rest sections carried by said frame, the improvement comprising means for mounting said body support section for generally vertical linear adjustment relative to said frame, and drive means carried by said frame for vertically linearly moving said body support section relative to said frame, wherein said main frame comprises a pair of spaced and rigidly interconnected side panels, each of said panels being formed with a longitudinally extending slot on the interior face thereof for slidably receiving a panel of said body support section, said drive means for vertically moving said body support section relative to said frame comprising a first reversible drive motor mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said drive motor means to said body support section for vertically moving the same relative to said main frame, said body support section being formed with a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending slots, said knee rest having mounted thereon a pair of brackets each of which extends through an associated slot, said brackets eing operatively connected to an internally threaded nut member through which threadedly extends a rotatable drive screw, and a second reversible drive motor for rotating said drive screw in opposite directions thereby to vertically move said knee rest relative to said body support section and to said frame.

5. In medical examination apparatus of the type described comprising a main frame and body support and knee rest sections carried by said frame, the improvement comprising means for mounting said body support section for generally vertical linear adjustment relative to said frame, and drive means carried by said frame for vertically linearly moving said body support section relative to said frame, further including an extension member hingedly connected to said body support section and normally hanging substantially vertically downwardly therefrom, said extension being adapted to be raised so that the free end thereof may be supported by an examination table or the like.

6. An adjustable, folding medical patient supporting structure comprising a stand including a stationary section and a linearly movable body supporting section movable relative to said stationary section, a table extension hingedly secured at one end to said body supporting section at one side thereof, and adapted to be swung from a generally vertical to a generally horizontal position, a knee support mounted for vertical adjustment on said body supporting section on the side thereof opposite to the side thereof to which said table extension is hingedly secured, and means for vertically adjustably elevating said body support section and said knee support and table extension carried thereby relative to said stationary section of said frame.

7. Patient supporting medical examination apparatus comprising a stand, a table portion, means hingedly supporting one end of said table portion on said stand adjacent the upper end of the latter for swinging movement to and from a generally horizontal position at one side of 7 8 said stand, a knee support carried by said stand at the References Cited opposite side of the latter from said table portion and at i a level lower than said table portion when said table por- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion is in such horizontal position, and means for adjust- 2,577,177 2/ 951 Anderson 269322 ably elevating said supporting means for said table por- 5 2,613,389 1 /1952 cra'rner 16-44 tion relative to said stand to vertically adjust said one end 2,700,583 1/ 1955 Davls 269--325 of said table portion.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner 8. The apparatus of dam 7 further including means for adjustably elevating said knee support relative to said MELTON, Asslstant Examlner table portion and said stand. 0 s CL 

